Banana Bars Recipe
User Reviews
5
Banana Bars Recipe
Description
This recipe for Banana Bars begins with creaming softened butter and sugars until light, then incorporating room-temperature eggs, mashed ripe bananas, sour cream, and vanilla extract for moisture and flavor. The dry ingredients include all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt, gently mixed to avoid tough texture. The batter is spread evenly in a large baking pan and baked until a clean toothpick emerges, indicating proper doneness and a golden surface.
The cream cheese frosting combines softened butter and cream cheese with vanilla, salt, confectioners sugar, and optional cinnamon to coat the cooled banana bars with a creamy, slightly tangy topping. The bars themselves maintain a tender crumb with moistness from banana and sour cream.
These bars suit dessert or snack occasions where banana bread flavors are desired in a bar format. The smooth frosting adds a complementary richness without overpowering the banana taste. Cinnamon can be added for warmth.
Tips recommend using ripe bananas spotted with brown for maximum sweetness and flavor, keeping eggs and butter at room temperature for better mixing, measuring flour carefully to avoid density, not overmixing to maintain tenderness, evenly spreading batter for uniform baking, testing with a toothpick, and cooling fully before frosting to prevent melting.
Ingredients
For the Banana Bars:
- ½ cup butter 1 stick, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar packed
- 2 large egg room temperature
- 1 ½ cups banana about 3 medium bananas, mashed ripe
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- ½ cup butter 1 stick, unsalted, softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened (1 block-style package)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt about 1/4 teaspoon
- 4 cups confectioners sugar adjust to taste
- ground cinnamon great flavor if you want to mix it up!, optional, 1/4 teaspoon
Instructions
Make the Banana Bars:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 15x10x1-inch baking pan and set it aside.
- Prepare the Banana Bars: In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy (about 5 minutes).
- Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the mashed bananas, sour cream, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and baking soda.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture, mixing until combined. Do not overmix.
- Bake the Banana Bars: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan. You may tab the pan on the counter a few times to even out the filling.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
Make the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
- Add the vanilla extract and pinch of salt, and beat until well combined.
- Gradually add the confectioner's sugar, beating well after each addition until the frosting is smooth and spreadable. Adjust the amount of confectioner's sugar to achieve desired sweetness and consistency.
Frost the Banana Bars:
- Once the banana bars are completely cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top.For easier spreading, slightly warm the frosting in the microwave for a few seconds.Optional: Garnish with sliced bananas or chopped nuts if desired.
- Serve and Enjoy: Cut the frosted banana bars into squares or rectangles. Serve and enjoy these delicious banana bars with cream cheese frosting!
- Storage: Any leftover banana bars can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Notes
- Use ripe bananas with brown spots for the best sweetness and flavor in the bars.
- Ensure eggs and butter are at room temperature to help ingredients blend smoothly.
- Measure flour by spooning and leveling to prevent dense bars.
- Mix batter just until ingredients combine to keep bars tender; avoid overmixing.
- Evenly spread batter in the pan and smooth the top for uniform baking.
- Test for doneness with a toothpick; it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool bars completely before adding frosting to prevent it from melting and sliding off.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 12servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 454 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 454kcal | 23% |
| Carbohydrates | 92g | 31% |
| Protein | 5g | 10% |
| Fat | 27g | 42% |
| Saturated Fat | 16g | 80% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 102mg | 34% |
| Sodium | 334mg | 14% |
| Potassium | 202mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 31g | 62% |
| Vitamin A | 909IU | 18% |
| Vitamin C | 3mg | 3% |
| Calcium | 59mg | 6% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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